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Clyde didn't remember rescuing Winfrey from that horrid facility. But it didn't matter at the moment because right now it was happy. For the first time in years it was at peace with life. Sitting in it's partner's lap without a care in the world.
For now, Clyde didn't have to worry about any humans or the facility or food. Right now they were safe and that's all that mattered. Shifting to snuggle up closer into Winfrey, the larger veldigun wrapped their arms protectively around their orange companion. It was like nothing ever changed. Like they were never forced apart. Like everything was normal.
Deep down Clyde knew it wasn't true. As much as Clyde pained it to admit, Winfrey wouldn't be okay. It didn't matter if Winfrey did insist, there was just no telling what horrors they faced with Lankmann and those other disgusting humans. Yet Clyde just couldn't bring itself to care, atleast for the time being. Call it selfish, but right now it wouldn't hurt to pretend that everything's good. That everything's right.
The forest the two of them resided in was quiet. Only a couple sounds could be heard. Like the rustling of leaves, birds chirping, and humming. Wait, when did the humming start? It looked up at it's companion, it recognised that humming anywhere. Winfrey always loved to hum and sing, it was their way of expressing themselves freely.
Maybe Clyde was being too overbearing and worried about Winfrey. Maybe their fine. Maybe nothing bad did happen. It tried to forget about some reports it found after it ate a worker's brain. Yeah, of course Winfrey was fine, why wouldn't they be they're safe now so what's the point of worrying anymore? All it does is get Clyde too worried over nothing. So what's the point of thinking about it.
"I missed you." Clyde's voice broke through the comfortable silence that settled over the two. "Like alot." It's voice was quiet, unlike how loud it normally was. Clyde didn't mean to say those words, it was happy to just enjoy their partner's presence, but it guesses it's brain just couldn't help but let it slip out. Instead of giving a verbal response Winfrey only held Clyde closer to show how they felt the same way. Perhaps the lack of response was to show that they were tired, Clyde wouldn't blame them as they were getting tired too. The sun was beginning to rise, it was no longer their turn to be awake now. They roamed the night, humans roamed during the day. Not much they could do, afterall they were nocturnal creatures, so it didn't really effect them that much.
Relaxing it's body, Clyde's tail instincts wrapped itself around one of Winfrey's arms. Clyde felt it's eyelids drop as it let sleep take it away into the void of nothingness. The presence of Winfrey gave Clyde comfort that it hasn't felt in a long time. The feeling of safety and comfort that Clyde only able to feel when in the arms of his partner. It would be fine if they fell asleep and they will wake up and Winfrey will be there again. Just how it will be for the night after that and the night after that and the night after that. Their routine. Clyde couldn't imagine a life without them. But they were forced to live through the hell of not having Winfrey with them for 4 years, but not now, never again.
When Clyde opened it's eyes it realised immediately that Winfrey was missing. Standing up swiftly it started it's search for it's missing partner. Thankfully, the moon was raised up high in the sky which allowed it to search more freely. Every corner it turned only led to disappointment after disappointment. Where was Winfrey? Where did they go? The kept on hunting for their companion, each second it's searching became more frantic. Atleast, until it came to a stop infront of the facility.
It didn't look like anything changed there. Security was the same, everything seemed in order, caretakers walking around. It didn't look like Clyde just got Winfrey out of that hell hole, so why-
Oh! Oh...
Making a turn it hastily returned to the same spot it and Winfrey were previously laying. It took a moment to process what actually happened. None of it was real, nothing but a dream.
Nothing but a wish
Clyde hated the fact that it's own mind was able to trick it so easily. Why of all things for it to imagine, why did it have to be something so painful? Tears filled it's eyes as Clyde started to cry. It's pained sobs filled the quiet atmosphere of the forest. Why them? Why couldn't it have been Clyde that was taken instead of their partner. Why? Why couldn't Winfrey be free. Why couldn't Clyde be suffering instead.
Why did Winfrey have to leave it?